Writing the Self, Riding the Horse: Courtney Maum and Emma Hudelson on Equestrian Memoir
Date: 05/09/2024
Time: 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
Join authors Courtney Maum and Emma Hudelson at the Library as they discuss their equestrian memoirs and the rise of the hybrid memoir. Hudelson’s new book, “Sky Watch: Chasing an American Saddlebred Story,” focuses on the decline of the American Saddlebred Horse in America and Hudelson’s quest to better understand herself as a female rider in the Saddlebred world. Maum’s memoir, “The Year of the Horses,” follows Maum’s return to horseback riding as a last-ditch effort to pull herself from the brink of depression. As she finds her way, once again, through the world of contemporary horseback riding—Courtney becomes reacquainted with herself not only as a rider but as a mother, wife, daughter, writer, and woman.
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Emma Hudelson is a nonfiction writer from Indiana. Her book Sky Watch: Chasing an American Saddlebred Story debuted in March of 2024 with the University Press of Kentucky. Her work appears in the Cincinnati Review, the Chattahoochee Review, The Rumpus, and elsewhere, and she contributes regularly to Saddle & Bridle. Emma writes about horses, women, and wellness, and she is passionate about the therapeutic power of expressive writing. She holds a Ph.D. in creative writing from the University of Cincinnati and directs the Writing for Wellness program at Butler University. Her Writing for Wellness work takes her to hospitals, addiction recovery centers, medical schools, and community centers. When she’s not teaching or writing, Emma is usually at the barn. She has one daughter, one husband, one dog, one cat, and one horse.
Courtney Maum is the author of five books, including the groundbreaking publishing guide that Vanity Fair recently named one of the ten best books for writers, BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL and the memoir THE YEAR OF THE HORSES, chosen by The Today Show as the best read for mental health awareness. A writing coach, executive director of the nonprofit learning collaborative “The Cabins,” and educator, Courtney’s mission is to help people hold on to the joy of art-making in a culture obsessed with turning artists into brands. You can sign up for her publishing tips newsletter and online masterclasses at CourtneyMaum.com.